03/12/2025
WHY REIKI IS TAUGHT IN LEVELS
Reiki is the energy from which everything is made. Therefore, to be a Reiki practitioner means that we are actively remembering we are pure energy and to let go of being caught up in the imagination of our mind. In doing so we lessen the stress placed on ourselves and our bodies, which then enables us to heal and perform well.
Therefore to practice Reiki is to want to be in the best energetic health possible - knowing our potential is limitless!
Seeing as such an approach isn't common vernacular in most people's lives, Reiki takes time to learn. Frequently this means unlearning what we thought was true about ourselves, our lives and others. It is a stripping back of layers of misinformation to discover our true selves, free of delusion and ignorance.
This takes time! Most people embrace new ideas slowly as they integrate them into their lives, finding new levels of enlightenment the more they practice.
Each layer of Reiki training is designed to meet a different need.
Level 1 - Shoden - Beginners teachings - is about applying Reiki to yourself. It's about discovering what Reiki is and then applying it to your life, including pets, friends and family. It's a wonderful journey, that opens your eyes to the potential being a Reiki practitioner brings. This is so alluring most people go on to do...
Level 2 - Okuden - Hidden teachings - which is about being competent enough to safely practice on others. At this level the practitioner is required to be stable enough to not be swayed by another's potentially chaotic or severely depressed energy. It requires being deeply grounded in their hara, and to be living the precepts daily and effectively. Additional tools are given at this level to help with your practice, including mantras, symbols and the kotodama. How to set up a professional practice is also covered.
Level 3 - Shinpiden - Mystery teachings is about getting ready to teach. It includes the fourth mantra and symbol and requires a deep enough embodiment of Reiki to be able to awaken it in another. A practitioner will be far along in their journey before they take this training, demonstrating a clear awareness of Reiki and self-mastery. They will have a calm and stable demeanour and create feelings of safety and serenity in others. They will also have a broad knowledge of Reiki and experience applying it.
There is no mandatory requirement to go through the levels though many that enjoy Reiki choose to do so. Each level of training unlocks the next layer of personal development. This is by far the greatest value of going through the training, plus the wonderful people you meet along the way!
Okuden is the minimum requirement to practice professionally and get insurance and Shinpiden is the minimum requirement to teach.
Once the three levels have been done, learning is ongoing as you apply Reiki in life and work with all of the principles to continue to dissolve your layers of ego. This may be for yourself, with friends and family, with animals and pets or professionally.
Many repeat the training with their original teacher or another teacher, sometimes bringing in different elements of Reiki such as drumming, crystals or a different teaching lineage. Every training course brings new learning and new opportunities, plus the joy of spending time purely focused on Reiki.
There are also many great books around the topic of Reiki that helps signpost us back to our true essence to further our learning.
The joy of Reiki is that it is endless, and certainly the courses are just the beginning.
Images: Students gaining their Shoden certificate after their 2 day training course.
A student attending a Reiki Share for ongoing learning.
A student applying their Reiki knowledge in their profession as an animal osteopath.
